Blackmore Shuns Hall Of Fame Nomination

Richie Blackmore has reacted to Deep Purple's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame nomination by saying he won't turn up if they are inducted.

The band have been eligible for induction for 20 years, but Blackmore who founded the band but left for the final time in 1993 told Billboard he "couldn't care less."

"I would never go - I'm not really a fan of that stuff. Considering some of the people that are in the Hall of Fame, I'm not sure if it's a good idea," he said. "I think our fans seem to care more than I do. They're always saying, 'You should be in the Hall of Fame.' If I can pay the bills that's all I care about."

Instead he'll continue work with his wife on an eighth album as Blackmore's Night.

In other Blackmore news, Classic Rock reports that his classic band Rainbow which was fronted by Ronnie James Dio will release a two-disc deluxe version of the live "On Stage From 1977" and their third LP "Long Live Rock'n'Roll" which will include previously unreleased material.

Is Blackmore right to shun the ceremony, or would Deep Purple fans appreciate an appearance? Let us know in the comments.

I would say sure, why not? A lot of guitar players were influenced by rap music. In one particular interview with Guitar World, Tom Morello cites rap music as one of his biggest influences. In the interview he even jokes that he was originally the "DJ" of RATM because he was playing guitar like he heard it in rap songs.

I saw him play the Michael Sobell Sports Centre in London in 1982 (I think)with Rainbow. He was in a foul mood, he didn't want to be there and it showed. Never seen him since. Love the music but not him.

I don't blame him at all, I wouldn't blame any of the bands in the same position. Think about it they have been eligible for 20 years, in that 20 years they probably watched copious non rock acts get admitted in their first year or two of eligibility. I personally wouldn't give two shits myself, RRHOF is so diluted and fake now it just doesn't carry the same meaning as it did before. I mean no rock act wants to be compared to the likes of The Beastie Boys or NWA...even if those acts had monumental and ground breaking music. I don't know if it exists but you would never see Joe Bonamassa getting admitted into the Hip Hop Hall of Fame...

Still, it's like Slah said last year (I can't believe I'm quoting Slash to make a point). "I don't give a f*ck but if the fans want it, I'm there" that's paraphrased...
Point is, if hundreds of thousands of DP fans want him there, he should at least consider it...

thats right. he is a musician, not a hero. for whatever reason, people who call themselves "fans" believe people need to bow to their every whim. I may get some negative votage here, but not everyone "*****s" themselves out to people like SOME people...**coughs**slash**coughs**

although blackmore may have the right to do as he pleases he still owes the fans something for allowing him to live the rock and roll dream. w/o the fans hed b wiping pubic hairs off toilets and mopping up vomit and piss so the least he could do is pull it together for one goddamn nite and show his appreciation.

Agree with this. He's who he is because of the fans, regardless of what people want to say. He should show respect to the fans. That being said, it is a certified fact that HOF has several questionable inductees and a strange case of selectism.

Ritchie Blackmore is definitely one of my favorite guitarists. He deserves the recognition. If he doesn't want to go, that's up to him. Isn't Rush also declining to go? Hardly anyone deserves to be inducted more than either Rush or Deep Purple, but if they've been snubbed for this long, they have the right to not want to be involved with them.

Metallica actually got in four years ago, but really Judas Priest isn't in? I knew Iron Maiden wasn't. Actually Thin Lizzy surprises me too. A lot of the other bands don't surprise me as much, since they don't put that much metal into the hall of fame. Still those are a lot of great bands.

LOL. A while back UG used 'slam' in the articles title, and someone posted a truckload of synonyms to use in place of slam. Now UG is apparently using some of those synonyms, and people criticize.
Slammed if they do, slammed if they don't.

So what? There are tons of artists/bands that have sold more than that, even. But to say "everybody" has a hard-on for them is just a stupid blanket statement. And to say Hetfield is a better guitarist than Blackmore is an even stupider statement. Go practice your 3 power chords ****tard.

If Jon Lord didn't die, they wouldn't of got inducted, I hate how bands get so much more sympathy after someone dies. If the Hall respected Deep Purple, they would be inducted already for their importance in influencing hard rock and metal, not just "boom! it took a death to realize how important they are!" Just to make themselves look good for the public. FUCK you Hall of Fame!

It is a complete joke. The article shows that in itself by providing the fact that Deep Purple hasn't even been inducted into the ROCK AND ROLL Hall Of Fame. The simplest, most memorable early rock riff; the basic for any guitarist to learn when he/she picks up a guitar -- came from these guys (you all know which song I'm talking about and if not, then blasphemy, sinners). How could they not be in a Hall Of Fame dedicated to the best rock bands?
If I were to make a pie chart about what types of bands get picked to be inducted in to the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame, it would be split into 4 sections:
17% Would be "Bands that are not-so-deserving of their place in the Hall of Fame, yet are still there, among the other legendary bands that influenced the inductee but somehow still slipped through the cracks of the R&RHoF"
22% Would be "Bands that were picked to be be inducted but were 'too cool' to accept the award because they know the R&RHoF is a circus act"
58% Would be "Bands that aren't even classified as 'rock'"
And 3% would be "Legendary rock acts that meet the criteria to be inducted (i.e. THEY ARE A ROCK BAND) and are deserving of their place there"

I agree with him if we the fans want Purple then put them in and remove everyone that isn't even rock. I'm sorry but Michael Jackson shouldn't even be in there just because he played a few songs with EVH and Slash doesn't make him rock his nickname even gives it away for crying out loud the "King of POP". Also, I side with Blackmore with on the paying the bills part if he can pay the bills and release new music that's all that matters because its prove that even though with illegal downloading at an all time high and with him not playing with Deep Purple or releasing new Rainbow material the fans are still BUYING the albums

I agree with almost everything you said here, and I think there are many acts in the R&RHOF that are completely out of place there, but I think Michael Jackson certainly has earned his spot.
He might not have played hard rock, but a good majority of his pop music is a form of rock music. For instance, I would say that the style present in Billie Jean , etc., is immediately comparable to the style like that of Queen's Another One Bites the Dust .
Also, are you completely forgetting the fact that the Jackson 5 were HUGE ? If they weren't rock & roll, what were they?

Jackson 5 and Michael Jackson=POP! people its the ROCK 'N' ROLL hall of fame (more like hall of shame). If 95% of your albums aren't rock, hard rock, or metal (any sub-genre of metal) you don't deserve to be in and if you are you should be kicked out bottom line

Well, if the Jackson 5 weren't playing Motown rock & roll, then that means that most rock & roll from the first 20 years or so of rock & roll also doesn't count as rock & roll, because it is just as much blues, country, folk, or pop as it is rock.
Therefore, Freddie King, Albert King, the Beach Boys, Bob Dylan, Buddy Holly, Dion, Hank Williams, etc., etc. should not be in the R&RHOF, by your line of thinking. Also, that would mean that bands like Led Zeppelin should only be partially inducted because, although they're inarguably rock and roll, they are just as much blues and folk, and there are numerous full songs in those styles on their albums, as well as being featured in every single song. I would argue that they are below 95% of your image of pure rock & roll.

It'll probably just the Mark II line-up; Ian Gillan (Vocals), Blackmore (Guitar), Jon Lord (Keyboard), Roger Glover (Bass), & Ian Paice (Drums); and the Mark III line-up; David Coverdale (Vocals), Blackmore (Guitar), Glenn Hughes (Bass), Jon Lord (keyboards), & Ian Paice (Drums). Those are the two line-ups that made the most impact. Like I said though it would probably just the Mark II & III line-ups but the people who decide what bands get are too stupid to know that so more than likely it'll just be the Mark II line-up.

I can't believe you can process the thought to ask why is Blackmore a legend on a guitar site? Go to youtube, type Ritchie Blackmore guitar solo compilation, look in the mirror, and say "I am a ****ing idiot"

@ehopes: Seriously. My exact thoughts.
@WardLucas: I don't know you can even claim to appreciate music when you make a statement like "why is this guy good when he made such an easy but TOTALLY INFAMOUS riff??"
You're actually contradicting yourself because that's what makes him phenomenal. You try making a riff that popular with 4 power chords.
By the way, it's nice to meet you, Derp.

Easy to play doesn't equal bad though, any more than difficult to play equals good. There are tons of songs that are easy to play, but are classics ("Iron Man", "Satisfaction", "Whole Lotta Love", "Cocaine", etc.).

It's amusing to see how people can be so two-faced about these things. Axl Rose was called a selfish bastard (to put it mildly) for declining the invitation, even though he issued a polite statement on his exact reasons. But when Ritchie Blackmore does the same thing, he gets heaps of praise? Interesting to see the double standads.

See, Axl Rose just refused to play live with the band that made him famous because he's a selfish prick. Blackmore just doesn't see it as important to make an appearance so long as he's making the music that he loves. Can't compare that to Axl's blatant fame-whoring.

Probably because the Hip Hop Hall of Fame would be devoted entirely to hip hop, whereas the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has been to open to all forms of music since day one. By your logic, only actual rock and roll, like Chuck Berry, is deserving of being in the hall of fame.
Nevermind the fact The Beastie Boys were a legitimate punk band, and still put harder rocking tracks on their albums than half the 'rock' in the Rock Hall of Fame.

I think it'd be nice if he acknowledged it. Not because I think the HoF is a legitimate piece of acknowledgement, but because having gone there, it's really cool seeing all the artists gear, props, writings, etc. in-person, and I'd love to see a Blackmore guitar in there.

i know everybody here is going to say that blackmore is god, but lets faces it. he is not that great. im not saying hes bad. but hes not as good as everyone says. juts like jimi hendrix, jimmy page, kurt cobain, brian may. lets just be honest with ourselves

I'm not quite understanding your point when you're lumping Kurt Cobain into the same sentence as Page, Hendrix, and May. I'm not even a Blackmore fan, but to say James Hetfield is a better guitarist is beyond absurd.

becasuse everyobdy has a hardon for him, (cobain) just like they do for pertucci, gilber, vai, blackmore. page. i like zeppelin. i do, but i hate how everydobdy thinks jimmy page is the guitar god, dont get me wrong, hes made some great music. but saying hes the greatests is pushing it. pertucci, hes a great player. but his music sucks, when i hear him plays its like im listening to a zelda soundtrack